The preseason game between the Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream stirred online debate — not just for the action on the court, but for the growing criticism directed at rookie sensation Caitlin Clark.
Several fans took to social media to call out what they believed were repeated push-offs by Clark that went unnoticed by the referees. One anonymous fan stated, “Clark with the push-off every time, note PaoPao did her 3 clean,” drawing a comparison between Clark and Atlanta guard Te-Hina PaoPao, who matched Clark’s first-half scoring with a clean three-pointer.
Another echoed the frustration, commenting, “The refs need to call the push offs on Caitlin! This is classless and can injure the players defending her.”
One fan went even further, saying, “Except PaoPao doesn’t push off to get clear. Hell, Clark shoots enough to hit something,” criticizing both Clark’s shooting volume and alleged physical play.
While Clark’s aggressive offensive style has made her a standout player from college to the pros, it’s clear not everyone is impressed with how she creates space on the court. The controversy opens a broader discussion about officiating consistency and the adjustment of NCAA stars to the professional pace and rules of the WNBA.
